Nope. Many people in this sub plant their peas now or earlier. You need a soil temperature 40° or above. Young pea sprouts can survive with temperatures in the high 20°s. But soil temperature between 40-70° is optimal for germination.
Muchomo256
Peas like 40 degree soil temperature. Otherwise they just sit there. Usually the nights are in the 30’s at that point. This link is helpful with gauging your soil temps. Once your nights are slightly warmer you can pre-sprout indoors.
Depending on where you are in Pennsylvania I would be hesitant. We can easily have a prolonged cold snap in the back end of March or early April. Ground temps are definitely not 40 persistently yet.
UnluckyCardiologist9
What the hell kind of weather is that?!! 😳That 68 down to 38 would kill my joints.
MormonDew
Nope, not too early at all. I started mine inside and they’ll be going out in the garden in a week or two hopefully.
Fearless_Walrus60mya
Check farmers almanac for last frost date
youafterthesilence
Nope that’d look good to me! Also good to go for root veg, spinach, boy choy etc. I do always have a frost cloth on hand just in case, if the plants are still very tiny for those colder nights cant hurt to throw a cover on. Even frost tolerant things are more sensitive as seedlings.
jesusbuiltmyhotrodd
Now is probably perfect timing, depending on where you are in PA. If you have a kitchen thermometer, take it and stick it 2″ down in the soil where you want to plant your peas. If it’s above 40F, go for it. I always pre-soak peas in a cup of water overnight (not longer) before planting them.
CMOStly
Already have some sown here, and the predicted low on Monday is 16. I wouldn’t sweat anything in the 20s, but I’ll be covering if this prediction holds.
the_elite_wolf
Thank you all! I’ll be planting some
Gettingoffonit
Peas are dirt cheap, germinate easily, can be crowded pretty tight, and grow fast.
I always start indoor to get a jump start. I’ll put some seed in the ground too when I think there’s a good chance we are staying above 30 at night for the rest of the spring and I’ll start putting my starters out when I’m 80% sure temps are gonna be good continuing to direct sow as I get more confident.
Worst case scenario you lose some seedlings that you wouldn’t have planted anyway if you were more cautious. Best case and more common scenario is that I lose none and get enough to stock my freezer.
12 Comments
Nope. Many people in this sub plant their peas now or earlier. You need a soil temperature 40° or above. Young pea sprouts can survive with temperatures in the high 20°s. But soil temperature between 40-70° is optimal for germination.
Peas like 40 degree soil temperature. Otherwise they just sit there. Usually the nights are in the 30’s at that point. This link is helpful with gauging your soil temps. Once your nights are slightly warmer you can pre-sprout indoors.
https://www.greencastonline.com/tools/soil-temperature
Depending on where you are in Pennsylvania I would be hesitant. We can easily have a prolonged cold snap in the back end of March or early April. Ground temps are definitely not 40 persistently yet.
What the hell kind of weather is that?!! 😳That 68 down to 38 would kill my joints.
Nope, not too early at all. I started mine inside and they’ll be going out in the garden in a week or two hopefully.
Check farmers almanac for last frost date
Nope that’d look good to me! Also good to go for root veg, spinach, boy choy etc. I do always have a frost cloth on hand just in case, if the plants are still very tiny for those colder nights cant hurt to throw a cover on. Even frost tolerant things are more sensitive as seedlings.
Now is probably perfect timing, depending on where you are in PA. If you have a kitchen thermometer, take it and stick it 2″ down in the soil where you want to plant your peas. If it’s above 40F, go for it. I always pre-soak peas in a cup of water overnight (not longer) before planting them.
Already have some sown here, and the predicted low on Monday is 16. I wouldn’t sweat anything in the 20s, but I’ll be covering if this prediction holds.
Thank you all! I’ll be planting some
Peas are dirt cheap, germinate easily, can be crowded pretty tight, and grow fast.
I always start indoor to get a jump start. I’ll put some seed in the ground too when I think there’s a good chance we are staying above 30 at night for the rest of the spring and I’ll start putting my starters out when I’m 80% sure temps are gonna be good continuing to direct sow as I get more confident.
Worst case scenario you lose some seedlings that you wouldn’t have planted anyway if you were more cautious. Best case and more common scenario is that I lose none and get enough to stock my freezer.
Peas strong. Plant peas.